China evacuates 790,000 as typhoon slams into coast

Page Tools

China evacuated more than 790,000 people as powerful Typhoon
Talim slammed into its east coast yesterday after barrelling across
Taiwan, where it left three dead and dozens injured.

Talim was forecast to be the strongest storm to hit China this
season and the observatory in Fujian province issued its
highest-level alert, warning of potential landslides, flooding and
widespread damage.

With a radius of 250 kilometres, Talim was packing centre winds
of up to 144 kilometres per hour, according to the central weather
bureau in Taiwan.

The China Meteorological Association said the storm made
landfall at Putian city in Fujian late afternoon, bringing
torrential rain and strong winds.

State television showed rising seas off the coast of Fujian as
rains hammered coastal roads, but winds did not appear as strong as
they were in Taiwan where three people died and 59 were injured on
Wednesday and yesterday.

Nearly 500,000 people have been evacuated in Fujian and another
291,000 from neighbouring Zhejiang province, according to local
officials, while some 30,000 fishing vessels returned to
harbour.

Most flights from Fujian's capital Fuzhou were cancelled
yesterday and schools province-wide have been ordered to close
until Monday, state television said.

Talim is "probably the strongest typhoon China will experience
in terms of wind this summer," said National Meteorological Centre
expert Zhang Ling.

Wang Dongfa, head of Zhejiang's meteorological bureau, said they
expect the typhoon to focus on Fujian but nevertheless warned of
torrential rain to Wenzhou, Taizhou and Ningbo cities and
surrounding areas.

East and south-east China are prone to typhoons and have been
pummeled by dozens over the past 50 years.

Talim churned through Taiwan Wednesday but by late yesterday had
largely left the island as it churned towards China.

Two men drowned in southern Tainan and northern Miaoli counties
while a 60-year-old woman was hit by lightning in the southern
Changhua county, the National Fire Agency said.

Offices, schools and financial markets closed in Taiwan, all
domestic flights were cancelled and many trains and international
air services were delayed.

An air raid drill slated for Friday in Taipei was postponed
until next week.

Electricity was cut to 1.7 million homes but most were expected
to be reconnected before the end of the day.

In Taichung, a bridge connecting Kukuan, a popular hot spring,
was submerged by flash floods, prompting the evacuation of hundreds
of tourists.

In the northeastern county of Ilan, powerful waves smashed into
the port of Wushi which was closed by the authorities.

Among those injured were eight prisoners and a policeman, hurt
when their van rammed a crash barrier.

In the capital, where the rain and winds were less severe than
elsewhere, bars, karaoke lounges and restaurants were crowded as
people took advantage of the national holiday declared as a result
of Talim.

Most air and land traffic was expected to return to normal
yesterday as the typhoon moved away.